{"id":115405,"date":"2015-05-11T20:46:12","date_gmt":"2015-05-11T20:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=115405"},"modified":"2015-05-11T20:46:12","modified_gmt":"2015-05-11T20:46:12","slug":"ghana-must-explore-solar-intl-power-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/05\/ghana-must-explore-solar-intl-power-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghana must explore solar – Int’l Power company"},"content":{"rendered":"
Global power management company, Eaton International Industries has made a strong case for Ghana to maximize solar energy to increase the country’s power generation mix.<\/p>\n
Solar currently contributes 0.1% of the country’s total installed capacity of 2,846 megawatts, with hydro contributing 47% and thermal 36%.<\/p>\n
Ghana currently has a 2 megawatts solar power plant in the Upper East region which is estimated to be the largest grid PV plant in West Africa.<\/p>\n
According to the Volta River Authority, the country’s leading power generation company, the plant cost 8,082,025 dollars and is expected to be expanded to 2.5 MW.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Ghana’s five year Renewable Development Programme Phase 1 (2010 \u2013 2015) is aimed at developing about 160 MW of installed renewable energy capacity with Solar expecting to contribute 14 Megawatts.<\/p>\n President John Mahama has said the country’s medium term energy target is 5000 megawatts by the year 2016.<\/p>\n Some energy analysts have identified the huge initial investments in procuring solar panels and power inverters as the main stumbling block in increasing the number of people using Solar in Ghana.<\/p>\n But Eaton says its extensive expertise and solutions for renewable energy include its capacity to deliver the lowest cost per watt on projects, year upon year.<\/p>\n